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Stand By for Crime - Single Episodes

by: Old Time Radio Researchers Group

Publication date: 2006-07-23

Usage: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

Topics: OTRR, Old Time Radio Researchers Group, Old Time Radio, OTRR Single Episodes, Stand By for Crime, OTRR - 2006-07

STAND BY FOR CRIME
This show, from the early 1950s, is a good example of the true story style of delivery made popular in radio's classic crime shows Gangbusters and Mr. District Attorney. Of course, the best and most popular of the true crime shows was Dragnet -- the monotone, "just the facts" style demanded by Jack Webb in the show made two points at once: first, that the show wasn't a typical melodramatic crime show, as had been on radio since "the good old days", and more importantly, that we were along for the ride on another day at the office -- in this case, a policeman's “day at the office". Not a true crime show, as this is drama, but this show features Chuck Morgan, as played by Glen Langen, a very believable news anchor at KOP, a Los Angeles radio station. He is pals with Lieutenant Bill Miggs of the police force, who tips him off to hot crime news. Also in on the capers is Morgan's "Gal Friday", Carol Curtis, played by Adele Jurgens. The three meet all types -- mostly on the shady side of the street. In real life, Glen and Adele were husband and wife, the two marrying in 1949. They had met on the movie set of The Treasure of Monte Cristo. On the show, the repartee between the two is strictly old school and quite enjoyable. The dialogue is solid and makes the most of the plots. Unheralded and left for dead, Stand By for Crime is well worth your time. From the Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. See "Note" Section below for more information on the OTRR.

Notes

OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHER'S GROUP

This is a production of the Old Time Radio Researchers Group located at Old Time Radio Researchers Website and the Old Time Radio Researchers Group.

It contains the most complete and accurate version of this series in the best sound possible at the time of creation. An updated version will be issued if more episodes or better sounding ones become available.

If you are interested in preserving old time radio, you may wish to join the Old Time Radio Researchers Group at Yahoo.

This is the Single Episode Page. The Certified Set includes extras not found here. It is located at OTRR Certified Set. This page is provided in case you want to sample the shows.

Note that in many cases, file names have been modified from the original OTRR names to conform to archive.org naming requirements.

Relax, listen, and enjoy!

OTRR Definitions:

OTRR Certified Accurate -- A series that is Certified Accurate indicates that all the episodes are properly identified and labeled but that the series does not contain all known extant episodes.

OTRR Certified Complete -- A series that is Certified Complete is the highest level of certification available under the OTRR Certified Standards. This certification level implies that all the files in the series are Certified Accurate but also indicates that the series is as complete as possible – it includes all extant episodes.

Addeddate: 2006-07-23 04:12:52

Boxid: OL100020404

Identifier: OTRR_Stand_By_For_Crime_Singles

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Reviews

Reviewer: Erik Niells - - May 16, 2023
Subject: Pretty much the bottom of the OTR barrel

Pretty awful on all levels: writing, acting and all. The normal sexism of the time amps up to the highest level, and Chuck is unable to refer to his secretary ever without mentioning she is blonde. Why this matters so much is deeply mysterious. The scripts are written as if Joe McCarthy is standing over the writers' shoulders and saying "no, be more jingoistic, your communists aren't being comically evil yet. Be more heavy-handed." I know it went onto the rota of one OTR streaming channel and was pulled by popular request.

Reviewer: georgeflorida - - February 20, 2023
Subject: Blatant chauvinism

The way Chuck treats his girlfriend is incredibly terrible. In one episode, he tells her to “ drop dead,” which goes beyond the “shut up” he had also said to her.

His nickname for her also is cringe-worthy.

Reviewer: harron68 - - April 18, 2019
Subject: Langen vs. Langen

Scripts not up to the quality of his "MYSTERY IS MY HOBBY." The plots are not so much straight mysteries, as with the overwrought dialog of the "Trixie" episode. The plus here over his other series is the absence of the police chief. To have a love interest, "glamour puss" could've been a good thing but it's used purely as a foil warning Langen of danger.
The sound at least is good,and there are enough shows to make it worthy of inclusion here.

Reviewer: Rick Botti - - August 24, 2018
Subject: STAND BY FOR CRIME

STAND BY FOR CRIME is a recent discovery for me. The sound quality is excellent and the scripts have held up well over time. Most enjoyable program.

Reviewer: furryscurry - - May 5, 2017
Subject: Great Old Time feel, but very un-PC

Love it, but found myself somewhat offended at different times. Times were different I guess.

Reviewer: MPOEye - - November 13, 2015
Subject: Enjoyable show!

This is one of my favorite crime shows.

For some reason, all the show lengths are shown incorrectly. These are actually half-hour slhows.

Reviewer: Charlie Heinz - - December 9, 2014
Subject: Good Audio Quality

Good audio quality. I'm guessing these were copied here from vertical cut transcriptions because there's no hiss. Sounds like the main character is talking too close to a ribbon microphone because he bass is somewhat overwhelming. I had to switch off my subwoofer speaker to hear him clearer. Thanks for sharing. :)

Reviewer: Peleke - - April 23, 2013
Subject: love this stuff...

If you like old detective/crime from the past this is one of the best collections. Thanks to OTRR!

Reviewer: LeGrande - - August 30, 2010
Subject: Some scripts have been used in other series.

While the reuse of scripts is rather common in OTR, one interesting use is found in "Trixie's Bank Heist," which happens to be the same script used in Danger Dr. Danfield's "Trixie and the Bank Job" from 1946.

Listening to the different deliveries is a great way to analyze actor's styles and directing styles.

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